Fun Facts About the Starchy Corn

Here we are anew with the Fun Facts. This time, let me present to you the ubiquitous crop of the Philippines and in other parts of the world – the starchy Corn.

DID YOU KNOW?

Corn is an ingredient in more than 3,500 groceries, from butter to batteries. The starch in corn can be made into plastics, fabrics, adhesives, and many other chemical products.

Corn with husk

The Corn Husks

Corn husks are dried covering of the corn fruit, known as the ear. These are actually leaves located on the outer part of the corn’s ear and are non-edible. Its color is pale light tan to soft white with occasional brown corn silk.

There are many and varied uses of corn husks. One of the most common of which is being a wrapper for tamales, a dish made of cornmeal batter and shredded meat, vegetables, or fruit. They are also used to wrap fish and other seafood for grilling. Likewise, corn husks can be made as material for craft projects, like dolls and puppets. Braided, the husks make good masks, sleeping mats, baskets, and even cornhusk bags. There have also been instances where corn husks are woven to make shoes.

Vegan jackfruit tamales

Corn husks are also beneficial to patients suffering from high cholesterol and bladder infection. Consumption of its oil lowers the cholesterol absorption by the body. The tea made from corn husk has been proven to be a wonder for people suffering from bladder infections. They are also good as a pain reliever for some types of repetitive motion sickness, and certain wrist and forearm ailments.

Corn on the Cob

Grilled corn on the cob, a favorite Filipino snack

Corn on the cob is a delicious vegetable that can be enjoyed on its own or as a side dish for foods like steak, chicken, or a variety of beef, pork, and vegetable-based recipes.

It is perfect for a school break picnic, an evening barbecue, or for a snack treat during the summer months of March, April and May (Philippines). You can prepare corn on the cob in a variety of ways, but the most common are boiling, grilling and roasting.

___________Content and Featured Photo courtesy of the Department of Agriculture (DA) Region VII, Central Visayas, Philippines.

From a child’s perspective

Kapaligiran

Vegan Lifestyle

I heard about a village of 5,000 people who are entirely vegan. I had to go visit and see how it's like to be them....This is what I found!I'm fascinated by the effect of food on your body. I take meat for granted, it's just part of my culture. But after visiting these guys...I'm not sure anymore. Follow me on Instagram: @nasdaily for 1 minute videos there.